Mechanical resistance training device for skating

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a device that can be used to provide resistance training for skaters to improve their skills, and that can be used in an actual rink or practice area. Two embodiments of the invention are described; a basic resistance training device and a slightly more sophisticated resistance training device. The basic training device comprises a body; a dual spool resistance wheel assembly; a return pulley assembly; two slack compensators; and a skater&#39;s belt. The second embodiment comprises a directional spool resistance wheel assembly and is used in the same manner as that of the basic training device with the exception that a directional resistance wheel is mounted on the shaft with a unidirectional bearing, wherein the unidirectional bearing drives the directional resistance wheel only in one direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPPLICATION

This is a utility patent application which claims benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/626,567 filed on Nov. 9, 2004.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objectionto the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office fileor records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to sporting equipment, and morespecifically, to a mechanical resistance training device for skaters anda method of using such a device.

In many sports, resistance training enables athletes to improve theirskills. For example, bicyclists use breaking devices for increasedresistance and swimmers tie weights to their body. Resistance trainingnot only enhances athletic performance but also provides an increasedanaerobic workout.

To provide resistance training for skaters, many devices have beendeveloped in the art:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,214 to Schutzer describes a training apparatus forskaters consisting of a fixed training stand with two carriagestransversely displaceable in opposite directions, the displacement ofwhich is controlled. Each carriage has a platform for the attachment ofa foot of the skater, wherein the platform alters its angle ofinclination upon displacement of the associated carriage from theinitial position in the same method as a skate on ice. The lateraldisplacement of each carriage occurs against the action of a force,which is adjustable.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,372 to McCormack, an ice-skating leg exercisedevice is disclosed. In one embodiment, this device utilizes a pair ofrotatably positionable tracks each having a stirrup movable back andforth thereon in which the user's legs are positioned, each track beingangularly adjustable with adjustable weight resistance provided againstthe rearward movement of each stirrup and a body support for the user torest against, while exercising on the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,130 to Green et al., discloses an exercise apparatusused for leg exercises, and particularly for isolating the muscles usedin ice skating. The apparatus consists of a frame with bar linkagesarranged side by side. Each linkage carries a foot pad. A resistanceunit is attached to each linkage to resist movement in both directions.The resistance unit is preferably a double acting hydraulic cylinderconnected to variable flow control valves to vary the resistance tolinkage movement.

Additionally, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,194 to Harrigan, a roller skateexercise device is disclosed, and consists of a platform having a topsurface to support a pair of roller skates worn by a person. Componentsof the device permit the roller skates to slide in opposed reciprocatingmotions on the top surface of the platform, so as to simulatecross-country skiing.

All of the devices described above are simple exercising devicesintended to provide resistance, particularly to muscle groups that areused in skating. Overall, the devices attempt to simulate actual skatingconditions. Although there are advantages to such devices, they cannotbe used in an actual rink or practice area.

Meanwhile, some devices have been developed that can be used in a rinkor practice area:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,077 to Johnson describes a method and device fortraining a skater, consisting of a support frame and a harness that issecured to the support frame. The skater is secured to the support frameby means of the harness, such that the point of attachment between thesupport frame and the harness is a distance above the head of theskater. Further, the support frame is configured and arranged so as toextend from the skater when the skater is secured to the support frame.The support frame, which is responsive to the skating motion of askater, moves with respect to the skating surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,734 to Jalbert features a mobile skating aid forproviding support for a beginning skater consisting of a surroundingmain frame supported at approximately waist-height on telescoping posts,which extend upwardly from a pair of elongated runners intended tocontinuously contact a skating surface. The posts are arranged to enablethe height of the main frame, which includes a hand rail, to beadjusted, and further to be easily collapsed and folded flat against theunderside of the frame for convenient storage and transportation. A seatelement flexibly suspended from the main frame at an adjustable distancebelow the frame at a height to be straddled by the user provides asafety catch to prevent a skater from falling due to loss of footing ortraction.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,175 to Shamp, a safety suspension unit with atracking carriage connectable to an elevated fixed track is disclosed.The suspension unit has a spring-loaded pulley system with a supportcable connected to a harness for aiding a skater in the learning andpracticing of jumps and spins. The tension in the spring, which loadsthe pulley system, increases as the support cable is dispensed.

Although all the above-described devices can be used in a rink orpractice area, they are only useful in providing safety and do notprovide any resistance training for skaters.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that can be used for resistancetraining for skaters that can be used in a rink.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the shortcomings inthe current technology and provide a mechanical resistance trainingdevice that can be used to improve skating skills.

A further object is to provide a mechanical resistance training devicefor skaters that can be used in an actual rink.

A further object is to provide a mechanical resistance training devicethat can be operated hands free.

A further object is to provide a mechanical resistance training devicethat can be used to control skating speed without effecting technique orstride, thereby making instruction easy and effective.

A further object is to provide a mechanical resistance training devicethat enables an instructor to make a quantitative assessment of askater's performance at different resistances and/or speeds.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide amechanical resistance training device that provides a skater with anoverall aerobic workout, and an anaerobic workout of the muscles used inboth forward and backward skating. These and other objects of thepresent invention will become better understood with reference to theappended Summary, Description, and Claims.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises a training device and a method forskaters to improve their performance. Two embodiments of the device aredescribed. One is a basic resistance training device and the second is aslightly more sophisticated resistance training device. Both devicesconsist of lines, pulleys, a spool and resistance assembly, returnpulley assembly, slack compensator, skater's belt, and a means forattaching the device to the rink or practice area.

The design of the basic training device allows the skater to skate inboth directions with equal resistance. The design also allows the skaterto move from side to side while skating in a range of approximately fivefeet in either direction from the direct line between the resistancedevice and the return pulley assembly, without significant variations inresistance.

The alternate embodiment of the training device uses a second resistancewheel, with a unidirectional bearing, a second resistance belt, and anadjustment assembly. It is used in the same manner as that of the basictraining device with one exception. When the dual spool resistance wheelassembly turns, it drives the shaft on which the second resistance wheelis mounted and the unidirectional bearing will cause the second wheel tobecome a driven wheel, but only in one direction, while freewheeling inthe other direction. This allows the user to have control over theamount of resistance based on the direction of travel.

When the unidirectional bearing is freewheeling, the resistance isprovided by the resistance on the wheel of the dual spool resistancewheel assembly. When the bearing engages and drives the secondresistance wheel, the resistance will be the sum of the resistance onthe second resistance wheel and the dual spool resistance wheelassembly. Having a different resistance available based on direction isimportant, since a skater can pull against higher resistance in forwardthan in reverse direction. In certain drills, it would be advantageousto have little or no tension on the return or if the skater wishes torun the maximum tension, he/she could pull in forward and the maximum inreverse, at the same time, given that maximum settings would bedifferent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of the body of the resistance training device inaccordance with the present invention, represented also by FIGS. 1A, 1B& 1C.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a basic spool and adjustment assembly inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a return pulley assembly in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a slack compensator in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a skater's belt in accordance with thepresent invention, represented also by FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a directional spool and adjustment assembly,forming an alternate embodiment of the present invention. FIGURES -REFERENCE NUMERALS For the Body  11 Resistance Body  12 Extension Shaft 13 Suction Cup  14 Inverted Channel  15 Inner Shaft  16 Pulley  17A 2″Bolt  17B 6″ Bolt  18 Nut  19 Pulley Mount  20 Washer  21 Bearing  22Spacer For the Basic Spool and Adjustment Assembly 101 Dual SpoolResistance Assembly 101A Primary Spool 101B Secondary Spool 101CResistance Wheel 102 Return Wheel 103 Main Shaft 104 Shaft Bearing 105Resistance Belt 106 Eye Hook 107 Adjustment Knob 108 Return Pulley Body109 Shaft Collar 110 Resistance Belt Shaft 111 Belt Keeper 112 AdjusterSupport Shaft 113 Key For the Return Pulley Assembly 201 Base Plate 202ABottom Pulley 202B Top Pulley For the Slack Compensator 301 36″ ElasticCord 302A Front Snap Clip 302B Rear Snap Clip 303 60″ Nylon Cord For theSkater's Belt 401A Front D-Ring 401B Rear D-Ring 402 Buckle 403 SnapClip 404 Connector D-Ring For the Directional Spool and AdjustmentAssembly 501 Unidirectional Bearing 502 Directional Resistance Wheel 503Directional Resistance Belt

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of a basicmechanical resistance training device which can be used to improveskating skills and which can be used in a rink or practice area, isillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. The basic training device, as seen inFIG. 1, consists of a resistance body 11 that houses a dual spoolresistance wheel assembly 101 and a rewind or return wheel 102 mountedon a shaft 103, which is supported by bearings 104. There are tworeinforced test lines, preferably 130 pound, which are wound in oppositedirections on the spools of the dual spool resistance wheel assembly101. The primary spool 101A contains two times the line as the secondaryspool 101B and two hundred and twenty percent of the distance of thepractice area.

The line formula for the spools is as follows:Primary Spool=Practice Area×2.20Secondary Spool=(Primary Spool)/2

A Kevlar reinforced resistance belt 105 is attached to a return pulleybody 108 in a manner that allows its position to be adjusted by threadedeye hook 106 and knob 107 with corresponding nut inset, thereby bringingit into contact with the resistance wheel 101C on the dual spoolresistance wheel assembly 101, as shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 1,there is an extension shaft 12 that houses an additional inner shaft 15with a pulley 16 mounted on it and is adjustable to elevate the lineabove the practice area. Attached to the extension shaft 12 is aninverted channel 14 that supports the device when in use. There aresuction cups 13 attached to the resistance body 11 that secure thedevice to the glass or plastic in the rink.

As shown in FIG. 3, a return pulley assembly consists of a base plate201, a bottom pulley 202A, and the extension shaft 12 that houses anadditional inner shaft 15 with a top pulley 202B mounted on it and isadjustable to elevate the line above the practice area. There aresuction cups 13 attached to the base plate 201 that secure the returnpulley assembly to the glass or plastic. Attached to the extension shaft12 is the inverted channel 14 that supports the assembly when in use.There are two slack compensators, as illustrated in FIG. 4, consistingof a three foot elastic cord 301 attached at the ends to snap clips 302,and a five foot nylon cord 303 attached at it's ends to the same set ofclips 302. As shown in FIG. 5, a skater's belt consists of a two-inchnylon fabric belt with D-rings 401 sewn in front and rear, an adjustablebuckle 402, and a snap ring disconnect 403 and 404.

The alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, has asecond resistance wheel 502 mounted on the shaft 103 with aunidirectional bearing 501 and a corresponding resistance belt 503, andadjustment assembly 107, and 112. The unidirectional bearing 501 drivesthe wheel only in one direction, thereby allowing resistance to be acombination of both resistance wheels in one direction and only oneresistance wheel in the other direction.

The operation of the basic training device and the alternate embodimentof the device are briefly discussed herein. The basic training devicehas an inverted channel 14 mounted at a right angle to the extensionsupport shaft 12 on the resistance assembly, allowing it to be hung onthe glass surrounding the practice area. In addition, suction cups 13are on the resistance body 11 to secure it to the glass. The returnpulley assembly, as shown in FIG. 3, is hung in the same manner and usessuction cups 13 to secure it directly across from the resistanceassembly on the opposite side practice area. Once the resistanceassembly (FIG. 1) and return pulley assembly (FIG. 3) have been securedto the practice area, the line from the primary spool 101A on the dualspool resistance wheel assembly 101 is drawn out and over the extensionpulley 16 on the resistance assembly. The line is drawn across thepractice area and over the top pulley 202B on the return pulleyassembly, and around the bottom pulley 202A on the return pulleyassembly.

The forward slack compensator is attached to the ring on the line by thefront snap clip 302A, as shown in FIG. 4. The skater's belt, illustratedin FIG. 5, is attached to the forward slack compensator on the frontD-ring 401A of the belt by the rear snap clip 302B. The rear slackcompensator is attached to the rear D-ring 401B of the skater's belt bythe front snap clip 302A. Line tension is set on the resistance assemblyin order to cause both compensators to become fully extended, as linecontinues to be drawn from the primary spool 101A back towards theresistance assembly by the rear snap clip 302B of the rear slackcompensator.

When the rear snap clip 302B on the rear slack compensator reaches theresistance assembly, it gets attached to the ring of the line on thesecondary spool 101B. The skater is now clipped (i.e., 403 and 404) intothe skater's belt and the belt is adjusted with the buckle 402. As theskater moves away from the device, line is drawn out from the secondaryspool 101B and drawn on to the primary spool 101A. As the skater movesback toward the device, line is drawn out from the primary spool 101Aand drawn in by the secondary spool 101B. Since the spools are identicaland the line volume is different, depending on the skater's location anddirection, slack will occur when the spool that has less line on it isdrawing line in, than the spool from which the line is being drawn.

On a standard rink of eighty-five feet width, the maximum slack at anytime would be ten inches. The slack compensators have the ability tocompensate for as much as twenty four inches, thereby maintaining ataught line above the practice area preventing it from interfering withthe skater. Resistance is provided by adjusting the tension of theKevlar belt 105 against the resistance wheel 101C, which is located onthe dual spool resistance wheel assembly 101. As the adjustment knob 107is turned, it draws the belt 105 around the resistance wheel 101C andthat resistance is expressed to the skater by the line as it turns thedual spool resistance wheel assembly 101.

The range of available resistance is from zero to forty pounds. Areasonable expectation of use would require zero to thirty pounds. Thedesign of the device allows the skater to skate in both directions withequal resistance. The design also allows the skater to move from side toside while skating in a range of approximately five feet in eitherdirection from the direct line between the resistance device and thereturn pulley assembly, without significant variations in resistance.

The alternate embodiment of the training device uses a second resistancewheel 502, with a unidirectional bearing 501, a second resistance belt503, and adjustment assembly. It is used in the same manner as that ofthe basic training device with one exception. When the dual spoolresistance wheel assembly 101 turns, it drives the shaft 103 on whichthe second resistance wheel 502 is mounted and the unidirectionalbearing 501 will cause the second wheel 502 to become a driven wheel,but only in one direction, while freewheeling in the other direction.This allows the user to have control over the amount of resistance basedon the direction of travel.

When the bearing 501 is freewheeling, the resistance is provided by theresistance on the wheel 101C of the dual spool resistance wheel assembly101. When the bearing 501 engages and drives the second resistance wheel502, the resistance will be the sum of the resistance on the secondresistance wheel 502 and the dual spool resistance wheel assembly 101C.Having a different resistance available based on direction is important,since a skater can pull against higher resistance in forward than inreverse direction. In certain drills, it would be advantageous to havelittle or no tension on the return or if the skater wishes to run themaximum tension, he/she could pull in forward and the maximum inreverse, at the same time, given that maximum settings would bedifferent.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanyingclaims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative featuresserving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly statedotherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each featuredisclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent orsimilar features.

Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for”performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specificfunction, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause asspecified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of“step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisionsof 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, various modifications and substitutions may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has beendescribed by way of illustration and not limitation.

1. A resistance training device for use by a skater that can be used inan actual rink or a practice area comprising; a. a body portioncomprising a unshaped channel that accommodates a series of anchoringbolts, an extension shaft and a means to adhere to the wall of a skatingrink, and which is designed to adhere to a surface with suction cups; b.a dual spool resistance wheel assembly; c. a return pulley assembly; d.two slack compensators; and e. a skater's belt.
 2. The resistancetraining device of claim 1, wherein the body is attached to a reinforcedresistance belt, which can be adjusted by a threaded eye hook and anadjustment knob.
 3. The resistance training device of claim 2, wherebythe reinforced resistance belt is made of Kevlar.
 4. The resistancetraining device of claim 1, wherein the dual spool resistance wheelassembly comprises: a primary spool; a secondary spool; a resistancewheel assembly; and a rewind or return wheel mounted on a shaft, whichis supported by plurality of bearings.
 5. The resistance training deviceof claim 4, whereby two reinforced 130 lbs test lines are wound inopposite directions on the primary and secondary spools.
 6. Theresistance training device of claim 4, wherein the primary spoolcontains two times the line as the secondary spool and between 200 and240%, preferably 220% of the distance of the practice area.
 7. Theresistance training device of claim 1, wherein the device furthercomprises: an extension shaft that houses an additional inner shaft witha pulley mounted on it and is adjustable to elevate the line above thepractice area; an inverted channel mounted at a right angle to theextension shaft that supports the device when in use; and plurality ofsuction cups attached to the body that secure the device to a wallsurrounding the practice area.
 8. The resistance training device ofclaim 1, wherein the return pulley assembly comprises: a base plate; abottom pulley; an extension shaft that houses an additional inner shaftwith a top pulley mounted on it and is adjustable to elevate the lineabove the practice area; an inverted channel mounted at a right angle tothe extension shaft that supports the return pulley assembly when inuse; and plurality of suction cups attached to the base plate thatsecure the return pulley assembly to the glass or plastic surroundingthe practice area.
 9. The resistance training device of claim 1, whereintwo slack compensators comprises: an elastic cord attached at the endsto a set of snap clips; and a nylon cord attached at its ends to thesame set of snap clips.
 10. The resistance training device of claim 9,whereby the length of the elastic cord is 3 feet and the length of thenylon cord is 5 feet.
 11. The resistance training device of claim 1,wherein the skater's belt comprises: a fabric belt with two D-rings sewnin front and rear, respectively; an adjustable buckle; and a snap ringdisconnect.
 12. The resistance training device of claim 11, whereby thefabric belt is approximately 2 inches wide and is made of nylon.
 13. Aresistance training device for use by a skater that can be used in anactual rink or a practice area comprising: a body; a directional spoolresistance wheel assembly; a return pulley assembly; two slackcompensators; and a skater's belt.
 14. The resistance training device ofclaim 13, wherein the body is attached with a reinforced resistance beltwhich position can be adjusted by a threaded eye hook and an adjustmentknob and whereby the reinforced resistance belt is made of Kevlar. 15.The resistance training device of claim 13, wherein the directionalspool resistance wheel assembly comprises: a primary spool; a secondaryspool; a resistance wheel assembly; a rewind or return wheel mounted ona shaft, which is supported by plurality of bearings; a directionalresistance wheel mounted on the shaft with a unidirectional bearing,wherein the unidirectional bearing drives the directional resistancewheel only in one direction, a corresponding resistance belt, and anadjustment assembly.
 16. The resistance training device of claim 13,wherein the device further comprises: an extension shaft that houses anadditional inner shaft with a pulley mounted on it and is adjustable toelevate the line above the practice area; an inverted channel mounted ata right angle to the extension shaft that supports the device when inuse; and plurality of suction cups attached to the body that secure thedevice to a glass or plastic surrounding the practice area.
 17. Theresistance training device of claim 13, wherein the return pulleyassembly comprises: a base plate; a bottom pulley; an extension shaftthat houses an additional inner shaft with a top pulley mounted on itand is adjustable to elevate the line above the practice area; aninverted channel mounted at a right angle to the extension shaft thatsupports the return pulley assembly when in use; and plurality ofsuction cups attached to the base plate that secure the return pulleyassembly to the glass or plastic surrounding the practice area.
 18. Theresistance training device of claim 13, wherein two slack compensatorscomprises: an elastic cord preferably 3 feet in length attached at theends to a set of snap clips; and a nylon cord preferably 5 feet inlength attached at it's ends to the same set of snap clips.
 19. Theresistance training device of claim 13, wherein the skater's beltcomprises: a fabric belt with two D-rings sewn in front and rear,respectively; an adjustable buckle; and a snap ring disconnect.
 20. Theresistance training device of claim 19, whereby the fabric belt isapproximately 2 inches wide and is made of nylon.